The Gambler, the Nun, and the Radio
Encyclopedia
"The Gambler, the Nun, and the Radio" is a short story by Ernest Hemingway
published in his collection of short stories The Snows of Kilimanjaro
. The original title was "Give us a Prescription, Doctor".
The story takes place in a hospital
run by a convent
. The story focuses around a Mexican
gambler named Cayetano, who was shot in a small town in Montana
, a nun
who aspires to be a saint and prays for everything or anything, and a writer
named Mr. Frazer, who is ill, and constantly listens to the radio
. To ease Cayetano's loneliness, the nun gets three Mexican musicians to come play for the people. One of the three musicians suggests that religion is the opium of the people
, and distracts them from their ignorance. Frazer then tells how all people need opium to keep them from suffering too much. The nun had prayer, the doctors had humor, Cayetano had gambling and now the music of the three, and Frazer had his radio.
The story was dramatized for television in a one-hour adaptation shown in 1960. The television version starred Eleanor Parker
, Richard Conte
, and Charles Bickford
. It was co-directed by Albert Marre
, who directed the original stage production of Man of La Mancha
.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0453073/
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
published in his collection of short stories The Snows of Kilimanjaro
The Snows of Kilimanjaro (book)
The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories is a collection of short stories by Ernest Hemingway, published in 1961. The title story is sometimes considered the best story Hemingway ever wrote...
. The original title was "Give us a Prescription, Doctor".
The story takes place in a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
run by a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
. The story focuses around a Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
gambler named Cayetano, who was shot in a small town in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
who aspires to be a saint and prays for everything or anything, and a writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
named Mr. Frazer, who is ill, and constantly listens to the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. To ease Cayetano's loneliness, the nun gets three Mexican musicians to come play for the people. One of the three musicians suggests that religion is the opium of the people
Opium of the People
"Religion is the opium of the people" is one of the most frequently paraphrased statements of Karl Marx. It was translated from the German original, "Die Religion .....
, and distracts them from their ignorance. Frazer then tells how all people need opium to keep them from suffering too much. The nun had prayer, the doctors had humor, Cayetano had gambling and now the music of the three, and Frazer had his radio.
The story was dramatized for television in a one-hour adaptation shown in 1960. The television version starred Eleanor Parker
Eleanor Parker
Eleanor Jean Parker is an American screen actress. Her versatility led to her being dubbed Woman of a Thousand Faces, the title of her biography by Doug McClelland.- Early life :...
, Richard Conte
Richard Conte
Richard Conte was an American actor. He appeared in numerous films from the 1940s through 1970s, including I'll Cry Tomorrow and The Godfather.-Life and career:...
, and Charles Bickford
Charles Bickford
Charles Bickford was an American actor best known for his supporting roles. He was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for The Song of Bernadette , The Farmer's Daughter , and Johnny Belinda...
. It was co-directed by Albert Marre
Albert Marre
Albert Marre is an American director and producer in the theatre.Born in New York City, Marre made his Broadway debut as an actor and associate director of the 1950 revival of John Vanbrugh's Restoration comedy The Relapse...
, who directed the original stage production of Man of La Mancha
Man of La Mancha
Man of La Mancha is a musical with a book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh. It is adapted from Wasserman's non-musical 1959 teleplay I, Don Quixote, which was in turn inspired by Miguel de Cervantes's seventeenth century masterpiece Don Quixote...
.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0453073/